WO2013168648A1

WO2013168648A1 - Oil degradation prevention device

Info

Publication number: WO2013168648A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/062663
Authority: WO
Inventors: 豪人森下; 泰啓斉藤; 一平福富; 村上　元一; 克一宮坂; 康裕大宮; 浩司森谷; 遠山　護; 成人龍田
Original assignee: トヨタ紡織株式会社; トヨタ自動車株式会社; 株式会社豊田中央研究所
Priority date: 2012-05-07
Filing date: 2013-04-30
Publication date: 2013-11-14
Also published as: CN104379888A; EP2848780A4; US20150083655A1; JP2013234581A; EP2848780A1; JP5855526B2

Abstract

Provided is an oil degradation prevention device with which the trapping effect with respect to oil degradation components can be improved and with which the oil passage resistance can be reduced, thereby suppressing a rise in pressure loss. This oil degradation prevention device (1) is equipped with: a filter unit (3) equipped with a filter material (10) that filters oil; and a degradation suppression unit (4) equipped with a powder-like degradation-suppressing agent (17) that suppresses oil degradation. The degradation suppression unit contains a mesoporous inorganic material, and of the oil fed from an oil storage unit (9), the oil filtered by the filter unit is fed to parts which are to be lubricated, and the oil in which degradation has been suppressed by the degradation suppression unit is returned to the oil storage unit or is fed to the parts to be lubricated.

Description

Oil deterioration control device

The present invention relates to an oil deterioration suppressing device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an oil deterioration suppressing device that can improve the effect of capturing oil deterioration components and can suppress an increase in pressure loss by reducing oil passage resistance.

As a conventional filter medium, a filter medium made of fine particles (for example, hydrotalcite) and fibers for removing carbon, acid, deteriorated substances and the like generated in an internal combustion engine is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the oil filter using the filter medium, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, an oil inflow path 205 through which oil sent from the oil pan flows into the housing 202 is formed in the housing 202 that houses the filter medium 210. . In addition, an oil outflow path 206 is formed through which oil filtered by the filter medium 210 flows out to a lubrication target portion (for example, a crankshaft, a cylinder wall, a valve mechanism, etc.) of the engine. Then, the oil flowing into the housing 202 from the oil inflow path 205 is filtered by the filter medium 210, the carbon is removed by the fine particles 217, and the oil flows out from the oil outflow path 206 to the lubrication part target portion of the engine.

Further, a filter using a filter medium obtained by heat-molding an adhesive fiber processed material and a filter medium material containing sepiolite is known (for example, see Patent Document 2). In this filter, by using sepiolite in combination, it is possible to obtain a filter having an excellent capturing effect even for oily impure components. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for automobile engine lubrication.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-296408 JP 2001-38119 A

However, in the conventional oil filter described in Patent Document 1, all the oil sent from the oil pan passes through the filter medium (so-called full flow form). Therefore, there is a problem that fine particles such as hydrotalcite constituting the filter medium become resistance and pressure loss increases. Further, in the filter described in Patent Document 2, the capturing effect is only evaluated using a test oil containing a specific test dust containing carbon black and ferric oxide. This document does not verify the capture of other degraded components. In addition, sepiolite has a problem that the effect of capturing nitrate ester, which is one of engine oil deterioration products, is small.

This invention is made in view of the said present condition, While providing the capture effect of an oil deterioration component, providing an oil deterioration suppression apparatus which can suppress an increase in pressure loss by reducing oil flow resistance. With the goal.

The initial deterioration product of oil is polymerized and sludged. Therefore, an initial deterioration product such as nitrate ester is adsorbed on the pore surface of the mesoporous inorganic material held in the deterioration suppressing portion provided in the oil filter before sludge formation. Thereby, sludge formation can be suppressed and deterioration of oil can be suppressed. Further, in the oil filter, the arrangement position of the deterioration suppressing portion that holds the mesoporous inorganic material that can be an oil flow resistance is optimized with respect to the oil flow in the filter. Thereby, it can be set as the structure where the raise of a pressure loss is suppressed.
The present invention has been made based on such knowledge.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 includes a filtering unit including a filter medium for filtering oil, and a deterioration suppressing unit including a powdery deterioration suppressing agent that suppresses deterioration of the oil. The deterioration inhibitor includes a mesoporous inorganic material, and among the oils sent from the oil storage part, the oil filtered by the filtration part is sent to the lubrication target part, and the deterioration is suppressed by the deterioration prevention part. The gist is that the oil is returned to the oil storage part or sent to the lubrication target part.
The invention according to claim 2 is summarized in that, in claim 1, the mesoporous inorganic material has an average pore diameter of 1 to 30 nm.
The gist of the invention described in claim 3 is that, in claim 1, the pore volume of the mesoporous inorganic material is 0.3 to 4.0 cm ³ / g.
The gist of the invention described in claim 4 is that, in claim 1, the mesoporous inorganic material has a specific surface area of 120 to 2000 m ² / g.
The invention according to claim 5 is the oxide inorganic material according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mesoporous inorganic material includes an element selected from the group consisting of Si, Al, Fe, Ca, and Mg. It is a summary.
The gist of a sixth aspect of the present invention is that, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the deterioration suppressing unit includes a porous layer that holds the deterioration suppressing agent and allows oil to pass therethrough. .
The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 6, wherein the porous layer has a first porous layer and a second porous layer laminated in the oil passing direction, and the upstream side of the first porous layer The gist is that the porosity is larger than the porosity of the second porous layer on the downstream side.
The invention according to claim 8 is the intermediate according to

claim

6 or 7, wherein the deterioration suppressing portion is disposed between the plurality of porous layers, the deterioration suppressing agent cannot pass through, and the oil can pass through. The gist is to provide a layer.
A ninth aspect of the present invention provides the housing according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, further comprising a housing that accommodates the filtering part and the deterioration suppressing part, and the housing receives oil sent from the oil storage part. An oil inflow passage for allowing the oil to flow into the housing, an oil outflow passage for allowing the oil filtered by the filtration portion to flow out to the lubrication target portion, and an oil whose deterioration is suppressed by the deterioration suppressing portion; The gist is that an oil return path for returning to the reservoir is formed.

According to the oil deterioration suppressing device of the present invention, among the oils sent from the oil storage part, the oil filtered by the filtering part is sent to the lubrication target part. On the other hand, the oil whose deterioration is suppressed by the deterioration suppressing portion holding the deterioration suppressing agent containing the mesoporous inorganic material is returned to the oil storage portion or sent to the lubrication target portion. As a result, part of the oil sent from the oil reservoir is bypass-flowed, and the oil passage resistance can be reduced to suppress an increase in pressure loss.
In addition, when the average pore diameter of the mesoporous inorganic material is 1 to 30 nm, the initial deteriorated product easily enters the pores of the mesoporous inorganic material, is sufficiently adsorbed in the pores, and sludge formation is further suppressed. Oil deterioration is suppressed.
Furthermore, when the pore volume is 0.3 to 4.0 cm ³ / g, since there is a sufficient pore space for adsorbing the initial deteriorated product, the initial deteriorated product is easily adsorbed, and sludge formation is further improved. It is suppressed and deterioration of oil is suppressed.
Further, when the specific surface area is 120 to 2000 m ² / g, the mesoporous inorganic material has a sufficient surface area for adsorbing the initially deteriorated material, so that the easily deteriorated material is easily adsorbed and sludge formation is further suppressed. Oil deterioration is suppressed.
Further, when the mesoporous inorganic material is an oxide-based inorganic material having an element selected from the group consisting of Si, Al, Fe, Ca and Mg, it functions sufficiently as a deterioration inhibitor, and the initial deteriorated material is a pore. It is adsorbed on the surface and sludge formation is suppressed, and deterioration of oil is sufficiently suppressed.
Moreover, when a deterioration suppression part is equipped with a porous layer, a deterioration inhibitor can be hold | maintained in the porous layer in the appropriately disperse | distributed state. Therefore, the oil passage resistance can be further reduced, and the effect of suppressing deterioration of oil by the deterioration suppressing unit can be further increased.
Furthermore, when the porous layer has a first porous layer and a second porous layer, and the porosity of the first porous layer on the upstream side is larger than the porosity of the second porous layer on the downstream side, the first porous layer Compared to the above, a large number of deterioration inhibitors can be retained in the second porous layer. Therefore, the oil flows while gradually spreading from the first porous layer toward the second porous layer. Therefore, the oil passage resistance can be further reduced, and the oil deterioration suppressing effect by the deterioration suppressing portion can be further increased.
Further, when the deterioration suppressing unit includes an intermediate layer, the deterioration suppressing agent does not move between the plurality of porous layers by the intermediate layer. Therefore, aggregation of the deterioration inhibitor in the downstream porous layer is prevented. Therefore, the oil passage resistance can be further reduced, and the oil deterioration suppressing effect by the deterioration suppressing portion can be further increased.
Further, the housing includes a housing for storing the filtration unit and the deterioration suppressing unit, and in the case where an oil inflow path, an oil outflow path, and an oil return path are formed in the housing, the oil sent from the oil storage section Oil that flows into the housing through the oil inflow passage and is filtered by the filtration portion flows out to the lubrication target portion through the oil outflow passage. On the other hand, the oil whose deterioration is suppressed by the deterioration suppressing unit is returned to the oil storing unit via the oil return path. Thereby, an oil deterioration suppression apparatus, a filtration part, and a deterioration suppression part can be replaced | exchanged easily.

The present invention will be further described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings referred to, with reference to non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments according to the present invention. Similar parts are shown throughout the several figures.
1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an oil deterioration suppressing device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an effect | action of the said oil deterioration suppression apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an effect | action of the said oil deterioration suppression apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the oil deterioration suppression apparatus which concerns on Example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an effect | action of the said oil deterioration suppression apparatus. It is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the deterioration suppression part of another form, (a) shows the form in which each of several porous layers is a single layer, (b) is a single layer porous layer and a multilayer porous layer A form in which and are combined. It is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the deterioration suppression part of another form, (a) shows the form provided with a single porous layer, (b) shows the form which enclosed the deterioration inhibitor without providing a porous layer. . It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the conventional oil deterioration suppression apparatus. It is a schematic diagram of the filtration apparatus which evaluates the degradation thing capture | acquisition based on Test Example 1. FIG. It is a chart of the infrared spectroscopic analysis of the nitrate ester which is an initial stage deterioration thing. It is a graph which shows the capture | acquisition result of nitrate ester. 6 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus used in a deterioration test of Test Example 2. FIG. It is a graph which compares and shows the acid value at the time of use of active clay, and the time of non-use. 10 is a graph showing the amount of initially deteriorated material in Test Example 3. 10 is a graph showing a base number in Test Example 3. 10 is a graph showing an acid value in Test Example 3.

The items shown here are exemplary and illustrative of the embodiments of the present invention, and are the most effective and easy-to-understand explanations of the principles and conceptual features of the present invention. It is stated for the purpose of providing what seems to be. In this respect, it is not intended to illustrate the structural details of the present invention beyond what is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the present invention. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how it is actually implemented.

Embodiment 1 The oil deterioration suppressing device (1, 101) according to the present invention includes a filtering section (3, 103) including a filter medium (10) for filtering oil, and a deterioration including a powdery deterioration suppressing agent (17) for suppressing oil deterioration. A suppression unit (4, 104). The deterioration inhibitor contains a mesoporous inorganic material, and among the oil sent from the oil reservoir (9), the oil filtered by the filter is sent to the lubrication target part. On the other hand, the oil whose deterioration is suppressed by the deterioration suppressing unit is returned to the oil storage unit or sent to the lubrication target unit. Embodiment 1 The oil deterioration suppressing device (1, 101) according to the present invention has such a configuration (see, for example, FIGS. 1 and 5).

Examples of the “oil reservoir” include an oil pan used in a wet sump engine, an oil tank used in a dry sump engine, and an oil pan used in an automatic transmission. Examples of the “lubricating target part” include engine mechanism parts (for example, a crankshaft, a cylinder wall, a valve mechanism, etc.) and automatic transmission mechanism parts. Further, the type, shape, etc. of the “filter medium” are not particularly limited as long as the oil can be filtered. Examples of the filter medium include fiber bodies such as nonwoven fabric, paper, woven fabric, and knitted fabric, resin foams such as urethane, and resin porous films.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned “powder-like deterioration inhibitor” includes a mesoporous inorganic material, and its type, deterioration suppression form, etc. are not particularly limited as long as it can suppress oil deterioration. The mesoporous inorganic material is a porous inorganic material having mesopores, and the average pore diameter of the mesopores is usually 1 to 50 nm, more preferably 1 to 30 nm, and preferably 2 to 25 nm. When the average pore diameter of the mesopores is less than 1 nm, the mesopore diameter is often less than the size of the substance to be captured, and the capture performance tends to be lowered. On the other hand, when the average pore diameter exceeds 30 nm, particularly 50 nm, the specific surface area tends to be small, and the trapping performance tends to decrease. Therefore, it is preferable to select and use a mesoporous inorganic material having an average pore size suitable for the size of the substance to be captured.

Further, the pore volume of the mesoporous inorganic material is preferably 0.3 ~ 4.0cm ³ / g, particularly preferably 0.4 ~ 2.0cm ³ / g. When the pore volume is less than 0.3 cm ³ / g, the initial deteriorated product is not sufficiently adsorbed, and the generation of sludge tends to be not sufficiently suppressed. On the other hand, it is physically difficult to produce a mesoporous inorganic material having a pore volume exceeding 4.0 cm ³ / g. Furthermore, even if a mesoporous inorganic material having a pore volume exceeding 4.0 cm ³ / g can be produced, the strength and shape as a mesoporous structure may not be maintained. When the pore volume is 0.4 to 2.0 cm ³ / g, the initially deteriorated product is sufficiently adsorbed. In addition, a mesoporous inorganic material can be easily produced, and can be a mesoporous inorganic material having sufficient strength and having a shape maintained.

The mesoporous inorganic material preferably contains about 60% or more of the total pore volume in the range of about ± 40% of the average pore diameter in the pore diameter distribution curve. A mesoporous inorganic material satisfying this condition means that the pore diameter is highly uniform. Here, “the range of about ± 40% of the average pore diameter in the pore diameter distribution curve includes about 60% or more of the total pore volume” means that, for example, when the average pore diameter is about 3 nm, this about It means that the total volume of mesopores having an average pore diameter in the range of about 1.8 to 4.2 nm of about ± 40% of 3 nm occupies about 60% or more of the total pore volume. .

Furthermore, the specific surface area of the mesoporous inorganic material is preferably 120 ~ 2000m ² / g, more preferably 400 ~ 1200m ² / g. When the specific surface area is less than 120 m ² / g, the initial deteriorated product is not sufficiently adsorbed, and the generation of sludge tends to be not sufficiently suppressed. On the other hand, it is physically difficult to produce a mesoporous inorganic material having a specific surface area exceeding 2000 cm ² / g. Even if a mesoporous inorganic material having a specific surface area exceeding 2000 m ² / g can be produced, the strength and shape of the mesoporous structure may not be maintained. When the specific surface area is 400 to 1200 m ² / g, it is possible to obtain a mesoporous inorganic material in which the initially deteriorated material is sufficiently adsorbed and has sufficient strength and shape.

The mesoporous inorganic material is not particularly limited as long as the mesoporous inorganic material has mesopores and can suppress deterioration of the oil, but is preferably a mesoporous inorganic material having an average pore diameter, a pore volume, and a specific surface area as described above. . Further, no mesoporous material having an average pore diameter of 1 to 30 nm, preferably 2 to 25 nm, and a pore volume of 0.3 to 4.0 cm ³ / g, preferably 0.4 to 2.0 cm ³ / g. Equipment is preferred. Further, a mesoporous inorganic material having an average pore diameter of 1 to 30 nm, preferably 2 to 25 nm and a specific surface area of 120 to 2000 m ² / g, preferably 400 to 1200 m ² / g is more preferable. Furthermore, a pore volume of 0.3 ~ 4.0cm ³ / g, preferably 0.4 ~ 2.0cm ³ / g, and a specific surface area of 120 ~ 2000m ² / g, preferably 400 ~ 1200 m ² / The mesoporous inorganic material which is g is more preferable. Further, the average pore diameter is 1 to 30 nm, preferably 2 to 25 nm, the pore volume is 0.3 to 4.0 cm ³ / g, preferably 0.4 to 2.0 cm ³ / g, and A mesoporous inorganic material having a specific surface area of 120 to 2000 m ² / g, preferably 400 to 1200 m ² / g is particularly preferable.

The average pore diameter, pore volume, and specific surface area of the mesoporous inorganic material can be measured as follows.
The nitrogen adsorption isotherm at 77K is measured by a constant volume method using a fully automatic gas adsorption measuring device (manufactured by Nippon Bell Co., Ltd., model “BELSORP-mini II”). In addition, in order to remove the influence of adsorbed water, heat treatment is performed at 150 ° C. for 2 hours under vacuum as pretreatment. From the adsorption isotherm obtained, the pore volume (Vp) is determined from the adsorption amount at P / P0 (relative pressure) = 0.95. Further, the pore size distribution is obtained by the BJH method, and the peak value of this pore size distribution is defined as the average pore size. Further, the specific surface area is calculated by the BET plot from the amount of adsorption when P / P0 (relative pressure) is 0.05 to 0.20.

Specific examples of the mesoporous inorganic material include oxide-based inorganic materials having various elements. For example, an oxide-based inorganic material having an element selected from the group consisting of Si, Al, Fe, Ca, and Mg can be used. In addition, an oxide-based inorganic material having an element such as Nb, Ta, Zr, Ti, or Zn can also be used. As the mesoporous inorganic material, an oxide-based inorganic material having Si and / or Al is preferable. Examples of such oxide-based inorganic materials include amorphous mesoporous silica-based inorganic materials called FSM (Folded-Sheet-Mesoporous-Material) having a honeycomb structure, activated clay, Si, Al, and the like having Si and Al. Can be mentioned. Sepiolite is excluded from the mesoporous inorganic material in the present invention because it has a small pore volume and a low ability to adsorb nitrate ester, which is an initial deterioration product of oil, even if it has mesopores.

Further, the deterioration inhibitor only needs to contain a mesoporous inorganic material, but when the total amount of the deterioration inhibitor is 100% by mass, the mesoporous inorganic material is preferably 10% by mass or more. Furthermore, the mesoporous inorganic material is more preferably 20% by mass or more, and the total amount of the deterioration inhibitor is particularly preferably a mesoporous inorganic material. When other deterioration inhibitors other than mesoporous inorganic materials are included, the other deterioration inhibitors are not particularly limited. For example, acidic clay, diatomaceous earth, zeolite, nonporous silica, hydrotalcite, and various ion exchange resins Can be mentioned.

Further, the average particle diameter of the mesoporous inorganic material is not particularly limited, but is preferably in the range of, for example, 0.1 to 200 μm, more preferably in the range of 2.5 to 150 μm, and in the range of 10 to 100 μm. It is particularly preferred that This average particle diameter is the particle diameter (median diameter) when the cumulative weight is 50% in the particle size distribution measurement by the laser beam diffraction method.

Embodiment 1 As the oil deterioration suppressing device according to the embodiment, for example, the deterioration suppressing portion (4, 104) includes a porous layer (18, 118) that holds the deterioration suppressing agent (17) and through which oil can pass (for example, 1 and 5). Examples of the porous layer include fiber bodies such as nonwoven fabric, paper, woven fabric, and knitted fabric, resin foams such as urethane, and resin porous films.

In the case of the above-described embodiment, for example, the porous layer (18, 118) includes a first porous layer (18a, 118a) and a second porous layer (18b, 118b) stacked in the oil passing direction. And the porosity of the 1st porous layer used as an upstream can be made larger than the porosity of the 2nd porous layer used as a downstream (for example, refer FIG. 4 etc.). In this case, for example, the porosity of the first porous layer is 0.7 to 0.99 (preferably 0.9 to 0.99), and the porosity of the second porous layer is 0.5 to 0.95 ( Preferably, it can be 0.8 to 0.95). The “porosity” is usually calculated by the formula {1- [weight of porous layer / (thickness of porous layer × density of material constituting porous layer)]}. The basis weight of the porous layer means the weight per unit area of the porous layer. Furthermore, the average particle diameter of the deterioration inhibitors other than the mesoporous inorganic material among the deterioration inhibitors can be in the same numerical range as the average particle diameter of the mesoporous inorganic material. The average particle diameter is also the median diameter.

In the case of the above-described embodiment, for example, the deterioration suppressing unit (4, 104) can include an intermediate layer (19, 119) disposed between the plurality of porous layers (18, 118). Further, the intermediate layers (19, 119) cannot pass the deterioration inhibitor (17) and allow oil to pass (see, for example, FIG. 4). Examples of the material of the intermediate layer include fiber bodies such as nonwoven fabric, paper, woven fabric, and knitted fabric, resin foams such as urethane, and resin porous films.

Embodiment 1 Examples of the oil deterioration suppressing device according to the present invention include a form [A] (for example, refer to FIG. 1 and the like) including a housing (2) that houses the filtering unit (3) and the deterioration suppressing unit (4). . In this form [A], the housing has an oil inflow passage (5) for allowing the oil sent from the oil reservoir (9) to flow into the housing, and the oil filtered by the filtration portion flows out to the lubrication target portion. And an oil return path (7) for returning the oil whose deterioration has been suppressed by the deterioration suppressing portion to the oil storage portion. Moreover, the form [B] (for example, refer FIG. 5 etc.) provided with the housing (102) which accommodates the said filtration part (103) and the deterioration suppression part (104) can be mentioned. In this form [B], the housing is deteriorated by the oil inflow passage (105) for allowing the oil sent from the oil storage portion (9) to flow into the housing, the oil filtered by the filtration portion, and the deterioration suppressing portion. An oil outflow path (106) is formed for allowing the oil with suppressed to flow out to the lubrication target portion.

In the case of the above-mentioned form [A], for example, the maximum cross-sectional area (S1) of the oil outflow passage (6) is larger than the maximum cross-sectional area (S2) of the oil return passage (7) (see, for example, FIG. 2). ). As a result, a relatively large amount of oil can be allowed to flow through the oil outflow path, and the lubrication target portion can be suitably lubricated. On the other hand, oil resistance can be further reduced by flowing a relatively small amount of oil through the oil return path. In this case, for example, the ratio (S1 / S2) of the maximum cross-sectional area of each passage may be 10 to 1000 (preferably 50 to 200).

In the case of the above-mentioned [A] form, for example, the filtering part (3) and the deterioration suppressing part (4) are arranged so that the internal space of the housing (2) is connected to the upstream space (R1) connected to the oil inflow path (5). And a downstream space (R2) connected to the oil outflow passage (6). Moreover, the said deterioration suppression part (4) is provided with the storage case (20) which accommodates a deterioration inhibitor (17). The storage case has an inlet (21) that opens to the upstream space, and an outlet (22) that is isolated from the upstream space and the downstream space and is connected to the oil return path (7). (See, for example, FIG. 1). As a result, the oil sent from the oil reservoir flows into the upstream space inside the housing via the oil inflow path. Furthermore, the oil filtered by the filtering part flows out to the lubrication target part through the downstream space and the oil outflow path. On the other hand, the oil flowing into the housing case from the inflow port is returned to the oil reservoir through the outflow port and the oil return path after the deterioration is suppressed by the deterioration inhibitor.

In the case of the above-mentioned [B] form, for example, the filtering part (103) and the deterioration suppressing part (104) are configured so that the internal space of the housing (102) is connected to the upstream space (R1) connected to the oil inflow path (105). And a downstream space (R2) connected to the oil outflow passage (106). Moreover, the said deterioration suppression part (104) is provided with the accommodating part (120) which accommodates a deterioration inhibitor (17). The accommodating portion may be formed with an inlet (121) that opens to the upstream space and an outlet (122) that opens to the downstream space (see, for example, FIG. 5). As a result, the oil sent from the oil reservoir flows into the upstream space inside the housing via the oil inflow path. Furthermore, the oil filtered by the filtering part flows out to the lubrication target part through the downstream space and the oil outflow path. On the other hand, the oil flowing into the accommodating portion from the inlet is discharged to the lubrication target portion through the outlet, the downstream space, and the oil outlet after the deterioration is suppressed by the deterioration inhibitor.

In the case of the above-mentioned [A] form, for example, the tubular filtration part (3) and the deterioration suppressing part (4) are arranged along the axial direction inside the housing (2). Moreover, the said storage case (20) has a cylindrical inner wall (20a) and an outer wall (20b), and the plate-shaped bottom wall (20c) which connects the one end side of these inner walls and an outer wall. Further, the inflow port (21) is provided at one end side in the axial direction of the housing case so as to open facing the end surface in the axial direction of the tubular filter medium (10), and the outflow port (22) is It is provided on the other end side in the axial direction of the housing case. And the said deterioration inhibitor (17) can be accommodated in the space enclosed by the inner wall of this accommodation case, the outer wall, and the bottom wall (for example, refer FIG. 1 etc.). Thereby, the oil that has flowed into the housing case from the inflow port flows through the entire deterioration inhibitor and flows from the outflow port to the oil return path. Therefore, the effect of suppressing deterioration of oil by the deterioration suppressing unit can be further enhanced. Furthermore, it is possible to easily dispose the filtering unit and the deterioration suppressing unit and to reduce the size of the apparatus.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described by way of examples with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an oil deterioration suppressing device that suppresses deterioration of engine oil (hereinafter also simply referred to as “oil”) is exemplified. Moreover, the test which evaluates the deterioration inhibitory effect was done using various mesoporous inorganic materials.

1. Deterioration suppression device <Example 1>
(1) Oil degradation suppression apparatus The oil degradation suppression apparatus 1 which concerns on a present Example is provided with the filtration part 3 and the degradation suppression part 4 accommodated in the housing 2, as shown in FIG. The housing 2 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical case 2a whose one end side in the axial direction is open, a disc-shaped bottom plate 2b which closes one end open portion of the case 2a, and a central portion of the bottom plate 2b. And a shaft member 2c screwed into the hole. Around the hole of the bottom plate 2b, a plurality of oil inflow passages 5 are formed at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction. Each of these oil inflow passages 5 is connected to an oil pan 9 (illustrated as an “oil storage portion” according to the present invention, see FIG. 3) that stores oil via a pipe or the like. A rubber check valve 16 is provided in the housing 2 so as to cover the opening of the oil inflow passage 5.

An oil outflow passage 6 is formed in the central portion of the shaft member 2c for sending the oil filtered by the filtration unit 3 to the engine lubrication target part (for example, crankshaft, cylinder wall, valve mechanism, etc.). Yes. The oil outflow path 6 is connected to a lubrication target portion of the engine through a passage formed in the engine. Further, an oil return path 7 for returning the oil whose deterioration has been suppressed by the deterioration suppressing portion 4 to the oil pan 9 is formed on the outer peripheral side of the oil outflow path 6 of the shaft member 2c. The oil return path 7 is connected to the oil pan 9 via a pipe or the like. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional area S1 of the oil outflow passage 6 is about 113 mm ^2, and the cross-sectional area S2 of the oil return passage 7 is about 1.13 mm ² . Therefore, the ratio (S1 / S2) of the cross-sectional areas of these

passages

6 and 7 is about 100.

The filtration unit 3 includes a filter medium 10 for filtering oil as shown in FIG. The filter medium 10 is formed into a tubular shape (also referred to as “chrysanthemum shape”) by folding a non-woven sheet material. A cylindrical protector 11 having a large number of through holes 12 is attached to the inner peripheral side of the filter medium 10. The protector 11 has a large-diameter portion 11a that supports the filter medium 10, and a small-diameter portion 11b that protrudes in the axial direction from one end side of the large-diameter portion 11a. In addition, the filter medium 10 has an internal space of the housing 2 filtered through an upstream space R1 before filtration connected to the oil inflow passage 5 (that is, a space where oil before filtration exists) and an oil outflow passage 6. It is provided so as to be partitioned into a rear downstream space R2 (that is, a space where oil after filtration exists).

The protector 11 is biased toward the bottom plate 2b by a spring 14 provided between the case 2a. A known relief valve 15 is provided on one end side of the protector 11 in the axial direction. When the pressure difference between the upstream and downstream spaces R1 and R2 of the filter medium 10 in the housing 2 exceeds a set value, the relief valve 15 acts to connect both the spaces R1 and R2.

1 is provided with a powdery deterioration inhibitor 17 made of a mesoporous inorganic material that suppresses deterioration of oil. The deterioration inhibitor 17 is held by a plurality of porous layers 18 (five in FIG. 1) made of a nonwoven fabric through which oil can pass and having a cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the powdery deterioration inhibitor 17 is dispersed and mixed in the process of forming the porous layer 18.

As shown in FIG. 4, each of the porous layers 18 has a first porous layer 18a and a second porous layer 18b that are stacked in the oil passing direction. Here, the porosity of the first porous layer 18a on the upstream side is about 0.98, and the porosity of the second porous layer 18b on the downstream side is about 0.92. Therefore, the density of the first porous layer 18a is set to a value smaller than the density of the second porous layer 18b, and more deterioration inhibitor 17 is held in the second porous layer 18b than in the first porous layer 18a. Yes. Further, between the plurality of porous layers 18, a ring plate-like intermediate layer 19 made of a nonwoven fabric through which the deterioration inhibitor 17 cannot pass and oil can pass is disposed.

The porous layer 18 and the intermediate layer 19 are accommodated in an accommodation case 20 as shown in FIG. The housing case 20 includes a cylindrical inner wall 20a and an outer wall 20b that are concentrically arranged, and a ring plate-shaped bottom wall 20c that connects one end side of the inner wall 20a and the outer wall 20b. The housing case 20 is formed with an inlet 21 that opens at one end side in the axial direction so as to face the end face in the axial direction of the filter medium 10, and the flow that continues to the oil return path 7 at the other end side in the axial direction. An outlet 22 is formed. And the said porous layer 18 and the intermediate | middle layer 19 are accommodated in the lamination | stacking state in the space enclosed by the inner wall 20a of this storage case 20, the outer wall 20b, and the bottom wall 20c.

The small diameter portion 11b of the protector 11 is inserted into one end side of the inner wall 20a of the housing case 20, and the distal end side of the shaft member 2c is inserted into the other end side. In addition, a rubber-made ring-shaped seal member 23 provided on the outer peripheral side of the tip end of the shaft member 2c is in pressure contact with the inner wall 20a of the housing case 20. Further, the housing case 20 is sandwiched in the axial direction between the rubber-made ring-shaped sealing material 24 and the check valve 16 disposed on the outer peripheral side of the small diameter portion 11 b of the protector 11. The inner space 25 of the inner wall 20 a of the housing case 20 is connected to the inner space 26 of the protector 11 and the oil outflow path 6. Further, the outlet 22 of the housing case 20 is isolated from the inner space 25 of the inner wall 20a through the space 27 surrounded by the check valve 16, the sealing material 23, the inner wall 20a and the shaft member 2c, and is connected to the oil return path 7. It is lined up.

(2) Operation of Oil Deterioration Suppression Device Next, the operation of the oil degradation suppression device 1 having the above configuration will be described. The oil stored in the oil pan 9 is sent to the oil deterioration suppressing device 1 by the operation of the pump 29 (see FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 1, the oil sent to the oil inflow path 5 elastically deforms the check valve 16 and flows into the upstream space R 1 inside the housing 2 to reach the filtering unit 3 and the deterioration suppressing unit 4. .

In the oil reaching the filtering unit 3, foreign matters (for example, dust, metal wear pieces, sludge, etc.) in the oil are captured by the filter medium 10, and the downstream space R 2 and the oil outflow path 6 are passed through the through holes 12 of the protector 11. And sent to the lubrication target part of the engine. On the other hand, the oil reaching the deterioration suppressing unit 4 flows into the housing case 20 through the inlet 21 and passes through the porous layer 18 and the intermediate layer 19. Then, the foreign matter (for example, acidic substances generated in the engine) in the oil is adsorbed and removed by the degradation inhibitor 17 and returned to the oil pan 9 through the space 27 and the oil return path 7 via the outlet port 22. Here, since the differential pressure P2 (several hundred kPa) of the deterioration suppressing unit 4 is usually larger than the differential pressure P1 (several kPa) of the filtering unit 3 (see FIG. 3), an appropriate amount of oil is allowed to pass through the deterioration suppressing unit 4. And the effect of suppressing deterioration of oil is great.

(3) Effects of the Embodiment As described above, according to the oil deterioration suppressing device 1 of the present embodiment, the oil sent from the oil pan 9 is divided into the filtering unit 3 and the deterioration suppressing unit 4. And the oil filtered by the filtration part 3 is sent to the lubrication object part of an engine, without passing the deterioration suppression part 4. FIG. On the other hand, the oil whose deterioration is suppressed by the deterioration suppressing unit 4 is returned to the oil pan 9 without passing through the filtering unit 3. Thereby, a part of the oil sent from the oil pan 9 is bypass-flowed, and the oil passage resistance of the oil can be reduced to suppress an increase in pressure loss.

In the present embodiment, since the deterioration suppressing unit 4 includes the porous layer 18, the deterioration suppressing agent 17 (mesoporous inorganic material) can be appropriately dispersed in the porous layer 18. Therefore, the oil passage resistance can be further reduced, and the oil deterioration suppressing effect by the deterioration suppressing portion 4 can be further increased.

Further, in this embodiment, the porous layer 18 has the first porous layer 18a and the second porous layer 18b, and the porosity of the first porous layer 18a on the upstream side is the void of the second porous layer 18b on the downstream side. Greater than rate. Accordingly, more deterioration inhibitor 17 can be held in the second porous layer 18b than in the first porous layer 18a, and the oil flows while gradually spreading from the first porous layer 18a toward the second porous layer 18b (FIG. 4). reference). Therefore, the oil passage resistance can be further reduced, and the oil deterioration suppressing effect by the deterioration suppressing portion 4 can be further increased.

In this embodiment, since the deterioration suppressing unit 4 includes the intermediate layer 19, the intermediate layer 19 is separated between the plurality of porous layers 18, and the deterioration inhibitor 17 does not move between the porous layers 18. Aggregation of the degradation inhibitor 17 on the porous layer 18 is prevented. Therefore, the oil passage resistance can be further reduced, and the oil deterioration suppressing effect by the deterioration suppressing portion 4 can be further increased.

Further, in the present embodiment, a housing 2 that accommodates the filtering portion 3 and the deterioration suppressing portion 4 is provided, and an oil inflow passage 5, an oil outflow passage 6, and an oil return passage 7 are formed in the housing 2. Yes. Therefore, the oil sent from the oil pan 9 flows into the housing 2 through the oil inflow passage 5, and the oil filtered by the filter portion 3 flows out to the lubrication target portion of the engine through the oil outflow passage 6 and deteriorates. The oil whose deterioration is suppressed by the suppression unit 4 is returned to the oil pan 9 through the oil return path 7. Thereby, the oil deterioration suppression apparatus 1, the filtration part 3, and the deterioration suppression part 4 can be replaced | exchanged easily.

Further, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional area S1 of the oil outflow path 6 is larger than the cross-sectional area S2 of the oil return path 7, so that a relatively large amount of oil flows through the oil outflow path 6 and the engine lubrication target portion is suitably used. Can be lubricated. On the other hand, the oil flow resistance can be further reduced by flowing a comparatively small amount of oil through the oil return path 7.

Further, in the present embodiment, the filtering unit 3 and the deterioration suppressing unit 4 divide the internal space of the housing 2 into an upstream space R1 continuous with the oil inflow passage 5 and a downstream space R2 continuous with the oil outflow passage 6. Is provided. And the deterioration suppression part 4 is equipped with the storage case 20 which accommodates the deterioration inhibitor 17, and in this storage case 20, the inflow port 21 opened to upstream space R1, upstream space R1, and downstream space R2 is provided. An outflow port 22 that is isolated from the oil return path 7 and is connected to the oil return path 7 is formed. Therefore, the oil sent from the oil pan 9 flows into the upstream space R1 inside the housing 2 through the oil inflow path 5, and the oil filtered by the filtering unit 3 passes through the downstream space R2 and the oil outflow path 6. It flows out to the lubrication target part of the engine. On the other hand, the oil flowing into the housing case 20 from the inlet 21 is returned to the oil pan 9 through the outlet 22 and the oil return path 7 after deterioration is suppressed by the deterioration inhibitor 17.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a cylindrical filtration part 3 and a deterioration suppressing part 4 are arranged inside the housing 2 along the axial direction thereof. The storage case 20 includes a cylindrical inner wall 20a and an outer wall 20b, and a plate-like bottom wall 20c that connects one end side of the inner wall 20a and the outer wall 20b. Further, the inflow port 21 is provided on one end side in the axial direction of the housing case 20 so as to open facing the axial end surface of the tubular filter medium 10, and the inflow port 22 is disposed in the axial direction of the housing case 20. It is provided on the other end side. And the degradation inhibitor 17 is accommodated in the space enclosed by the inner wall 20a, the outer wall 20b, and the bottom wall 20c of this accommodation case 20. FIG. Therefore, the oil that has flowed into the housing case 20 from the inlet 21 flows over the entire deterioration inhibitor 17 and flows from the outlet 22 to the oil return path 7. Therefore, the oil deterioration suppressing effect by the deterioration suppressing unit 4 can be further enhanced. Furthermore, the filtration unit 3 and the degradation suppressing unit 4 can be easily arranged and the apparatus can be downsized.

<Example 2>
Next, the configuration of the oil deterioration suppressing device according to the second embodiment will be described. In addition, in the oil deterioration suppression device of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to substantially the same components as those of the oil deterioration suppression device 1 according to the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

(1) Oil degradation suppression apparatus The oil degradation suppression apparatus 101 which concerns on a present Example is provided with the filtration part 103 and the degradation suppression part 104 which are accommodated in the housing 102, as shown in FIG. The housing 102 has a bottomed cylindrical case that is open at one end in the axial direction, a disk-shaped bottom plate 102b that closes one end open portion of the case, and a hole formed at the center of the bottom plate 102b. And a shaft member 102c that is screwed into the portion. Around the hole of the bottom plate 102b, a plurality of oil inflow passages 105 are formed at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction. Each of these oil inflow paths 105 is connected to an oil pan 9 (illustrated as an “oil storage section” according to the present invention, see FIG. 6) that stores oil via a pipe or the like. A rubber check valve 16 is provided in the housing 102 so as to cover the opening of the oil inflow passage 105.

An oil outflow passage 106 is formed in the central portion of the shaft member 102c for sending the oil filtered by the filtration portion 103 to the lubrication target portion (for example, crankshaft, cylinder wall, valve mechanism, etc.) of the engine. Yes. The oil outflow passage 106 is connected to a lubrication target portion of the engine through a passage formed in the engine. Furthermore, a communication path that continues to the oil outflow path 106 is formed on the outer peripheral side of the shaft member 102c.

The filtration unit 103 includes a filter medium 10 that filters oil. A cylindrical protector 111 is attached to the inner peripheral side of the filter medium 10. The protector 111 has a large-diameter portion 111a that supports the filter medium 10, and a small-diameter portion 111b that protrudes in the axial direction from one end side of the large-diameter portion 111a. A large number of through holes 112 are formed in the molding wall of the large diameter portion 111a. Further, one end side of the small diameter portion 111b is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft member 102c. In addition, the filter medium 10 has an internal space of the housing 102 that is connected to the oil inflow passage 105 before the filtration upstream space R1 (that is, a space in which the oil before filtration exists) and the oil outflow passage 106 after the filtration. And a downstream space R2 (that is, a space in which oil after filtration exists). The protector 111 is urged toward the bottom plate 102b by a spring 14 provided between the protector 111 and the case. A well-known relief valve 15 is provided on one end side of the protector 111 in the axial direction.

The deterioration suppressing unit 104 includes a powdery deterioration suppressing agent 17 made of a mesoporous inorganic material that suppresses deterioration of oil. The deterioration inhibitor 17 is held by a plurality of (three in FIG. 5) porous layers 118 made of a non-woven fabric through which oil can pass and having a cylindrical shape. The plurality of porous layers 118 are arranged concentrically around the axis of the housing 102. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the powdery deterioration inhibitor 17 is dispersed and mixed in the process of forming the porous layer 118.

Each porous layer 118 has a first porous layer 118a and a second porous layer 118b that are stacked in the oil passage direction. Here, the porosity of the first porous layer 118a on the upstream side is about 0.98, and the porosity of the second porous layer 118b on the downstream side is about 0.92. Therefore, the density of the first porous layer 118a is set to a value smaller than the density of the second porous layer 118b, and more deterioration inhibitor 17 is held in the second porous layer 118b than in the first porous layer 118a. Yes. Further, between the plurality of porous layers 118, a ring plate-shaped intermediate layer 119 made of a nonwoven fabric through which the deterioration inhibitor 17 cannot pass and oil can pass is disposed.

The porous layer 118 and the intermediate layer 119 are accommodated in the accommodating portion 120. The accommodating portion 120 includes a small diameter portion 111b of the protector 111 and upper and lower annular plates 120a disposed on the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 111b. In addition, an inflow port 121 that opens to the upstream space R1 is formed on the outer peripheral side of the accommodating portion 120. Moreover, the small diameter part 111b has the outflow port 122 opened to the downstream space R2.

(2) Operation of Oil Deterioration Suppression Device Next, the operation of the oil degradation suppression device 101 having the above configuration will be described. The oil stored in the oil pan 9 is sent to the oil deterioration suppressing device 101 by the operation of the pump 29 (see FIG. 6). Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the oil sent to the oil inflow path 105 elastically deforms the check valve 16 and flows into the upstream space R 1 inside the housing 102 to reach the filtering unit 103 and the deterioration suppressing unit 104. .

In the oil reaching the filter 103, foreign matters (for example, dust, metal wear pieces, sludge, etc.) in the oil are captured by the filter medium 10, and the downstream space R 2 and the oil outflow path 106 are passed through the through holes 112 of the protector 111. And sent to the lubrication target part of the engine. On the other hand, the oil that reaches the deterioration suppressing portion 104 flows into the accommodating portion 120 through the inlet 121, passes through the porous layer 118 and the intermediate layer 119, and foreign matter in the oil (for example, in the engine) by the deterioration suppressing agent 17. The generated acidic substance or the like is adsorbed and removed, and is sent to the lubrication target portion of the engine through the downstream space R2 and the oil outflow path 106 via the outlet 122.

(3) Effects of the Embodiment From the above, according to the oil deterioration suppressing device 101 of the present embodiment, there are substantially the same operations and effects as the oil deterioration suppressing device 1 of the first embodiment. In addition to this, the oil sent from the oil pan 9 is diverted to the filtering unit 103 and the deterioration suppressing unit 104, and the oil filtered by the filtering unit 103 does not pass through the deterioration suppressing unit 104 and becomes the lubrication target portion of the engine. Sent. On the other hand, the oil whose deterioration is suppressed by the deterioration suppressing unit 104 is sent to the lubrication target portion of the engine without passing through the filtering unit 103. Thereby, a part of the oil sent from the oil pan 9 is bypass-flowed, and the oil passage resistance of the oil can be reduced to suppress an increase in pressure loss.

Further, in this embodiment, a housing 102 that accommodates the filtering part 103 and the deterioration suppressing part 104 is provided, and an oil inflow path 105 and an oil outflow path 106 are formed in the housing 102. Accordingly, the oil sent from the oil pan 9 flows into the housing 102 through the oil inflow passage 105, and the oil filtered by the filtration portion 103 flows out to the lubrication target portion through the oil outflow passage 106 and deteriorates. The oil whose deterioration is suppressed by the suppression unit 104 flows out to the lubrication target portion via the oil outflow path 106.

Further, in this embodiment, the filtering unit 103 and the deterioration suppressing unit 104 divide the internal space of the housing 102 into an upstream space R1 that is continuous with the oil inflow passage 105 and a downstream space R2 that is continuous with the oil outflow passage 106. Is provided. And the deterioration suppression part 104 is equipped with the accommodating part 120 which accommodates the deterioration inhibitor 17, and in this accommodating part 120, the inflow port 121 opened to upstream space R1, and the outflow port 122 opened to downstream space R2 are provided. And are formed. Then, the oil sent from the oil pan 9 flows into the upstream space R1 inside the housing 102 via the oil inflow path 105, and the oil filtered by the filtering unit 103 passes through the downstream space R2 and the oil outflow path 106. It flows out to the lubrication target part. On the other hand, the oil flowing into the accommodating portion 120 from the inflow port 121 is discharged to the lubrication target portion through the outflow port 122, the downstream space R 2, and the oil outflow passage 106 after deterioration is suppressed by the deterioration inhibitor 17.

In the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments, but can be variously modified examples within the scope of the present invention depending on the purpose and application. That is, in Examples 1 and 2 described above, the

deterioration suppressing units

4 and 104 are illustrated in which each of the plurality of

porous layers

18 and 118 is a multilayer including the first and second

porous layers

18a, 18b, 118a, and 118b. However, it is not limited to this, For example, as shown to Fig.7 (a), each of the some porous layer 31 can be set as the deterioration suppression part 32 which is a single layer. Moreover, as shown in FIG.7 (b), it can also be set as the deterioration suppression part 34 formed by combining the single | mono layer porous layer 33a and the multilayer porous layer 33b.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the mode in which the

porous layers

18 and 118 include the two first and second

porous layers

18a, 18b, 118a, and 118b is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the porous layer may be composed of layers having different porosity of 3 or more. Moreover, in the said Example 1 and 2, the

deterioration suppression parts

4 and 104 which arrange | position the intermediate |

middle layers

19 and 119 between the some

porous layers

18 and 118 were illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the intermediate layer 19 may not be disposed, and a deterioration suppressing unit in which adjacent

porous layers

18 and 118 among the plurality of

porous layers

18 and 118 are directly stacked may be used. Furthermore, in the said Example 1 and 2, although the deterioration suppression part 4 which accommodates the

porous layers

18 and 118 in the storage case 20 or the storage part 120 was illustrated, it is not limited to this, For example, the storage case 20 or The

porous layers

18 and 118 may be disposed in the housing 2 without providing the accommodating portion 120.

Moreover, in the said Example 1 and 2, although the

deterioration suppression parts

4 and 104 provided with the several

porous layers

18 and 118 were illustrated, it is not limited to this, For example, as shown to Fig.8 (a), it is single. It is good also as the deterioration suppression part 36 provided with the porous layer 35 of this. Moreover, in the said Example 1 and 2, the

deterioration suppression parts

4 and 104 provided with the

porous layers

18 and 118 holding the powdery deterioration inhibitor 17 were illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, the deterioration inhibitor 17 is sealed in the housing case 20 (or the housing portion 120) without including the

porous layers

18 and 118. It is good also as the deterioration suppression part 39 which becomes.

In the first and second embodiments, the form in which the entire apparatus including the

housings

2 and 102 is replaced as the oil deterioration suppressing apparatuses 1 and 101 (so-called spin-on form) is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an oil deterioration suppressing device in which the

housings

2 and 102 can be disassembled and the

filtering units

3 and 103 and / or the

deterioration suppressing units

4 and 104 can be directly replaced may be used. .

In the first and second embodiments, the form in which the

filtering units

3 and 103 and the

deterioration suppressing units

4 and 104 are accommodated in the

single housings

2 and 102 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the

filtering units

3 and 103 housed in the first housing and the

deterioration suppressing units

4 and 104 housed in the second housing different from the first housing are provided. May be.

Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the oil

deterioration suppressing devices

1 and 101 used in the wet sump engine are exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an oil deterioration suppressing device used in a dry sump engine or an oil deterioration suppressing device used in an automatic transmission may be used.

2. Evaluation Test Example of Degradation Inhibitor <Test Example 1> [Evaluation of Deterioration Inhibitory Effect (Deterioration Capture Effect) Using Various Degradation Inhibitors as Filter Material]
As a technique for removing deteriorated materials in the oil deterioration control technology, we studied to capture the early deteriorated products before the polymer deteriorates into sludge and suppress oil deterioration. As the deterioration inhibitor (filter material), a plurality of mesoporous inorganic materials having mesopores having a predetermined average pore diameter and the like were used. In addition, in order to compare the effect of capturing the degradation products, sepiolite whose pore size distribution does not have a peak value, acidic white clay whose pore size distribution does not have a peak value, diatomaceous earth whose average pore size is excessively large, and whose average pore size is excessively small Zeolite and nonporous silica were subjected to the test.

(1) Filter media used in the test Various filter media described in Tables 1 and 2 were used. The details of each filter medium are as shown in Tables 1 and 2. Incidentally, the five types of filter media [the following (e) to (i)] shown in Table 2 are comparative test examples.
(A) Amorphous mesoporous silica (FSM) (trade name “TMPS-4” manufactured by Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd.)
(B) Activated clay (made by Musashi Yuka Co., Ltd., trade name “Musashilite V”)
(C) Silica gel (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, trade name “C-500HG”)
(D) Activated alumina (product name “VGL15” manufactured by Union Showa Co., Ltd.)
(E) Sepiolite (trade name “P-80V” manufactured by Omi Kogyo Co., Ltd.)
(F) Acid clay (product name “Nikkanite S-200”, manufactured by Nippon Kakuhaku Co., Ltd.)
(G) Diatomaceous earth (made by Showa Chemical Co., Ltd., trade name “Radio Light Special Flow”)
(H) Zeolite (trade name “Zeoram A-3” manufactured by Tosoh Corporation)
(I) Non-porous silica (manufactured by Admattex, trade name “SO-E2”)

(2) Test Using NOx-degraded oil, a filtration test was conducted using the mesoporous inorganic material used as a filter material and the filter material of the comparative test example. Specifically, the filtered oil component was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis (FT-IR) to verify the trapping effect of nitrate ester, which is an initial deterioration component.

(3) Test NOx deterioration oil Toyota genuine oil (trade name “Toyota Castle SM 5W-30”), a commercially available gasoline engine oil, is deteriorated by bubbling NO ₂ gas and used for a long time in gasoline engines. NOx-degraded oil was simulated and subjected to the test. The bubbling conditions are as shown in Table 3.

In Table 3, of the total gas flow rate of 283 mL / min, the difference between the air flow rate of 205 mL / min and the nitrogen gas flow rate of 50 mL / min, 28 mL / min is from the gas cylinder as nitrogen gas containing 1% by mass of NO _2. Supplied.

(4) Filtration method Filtration of NOx deteriorated oil was performed using the apparatus shown in FIG. A particulate filter medium having an apparent volume of about 6 cm ³ was dispersed on a membrane filter (trade name “POREFLON FP045”, pore size: 0.45 μm, manufactured by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.), and compression molded at a pressure of 4 MPa with a hydraulic molding machine. Thereafter, a membrane filter (manufactured by Sumitomo Electric Co., Ltd., trade name “POREFLON FP100”, pore size: 1 μm) was placed on the formed filter medium, and this laminate was attached to a filtration device, and 3 mL of NOx-degraded oil was injected. Next, the pressure was increased at each pressure for 2 hours while gradually increasing the pressure with N ₂ gas to 20, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kPa.

(5) Method for evaluating deterioration trapping effect (5-1) Analysis of oil component Each of the test NOx deteriorated oil and the filtered oil was analyzed by FT-IR. The equipment used and analysis conditions are as follows.
Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer; Model “Avatar 360” manufactured by Thermo Nicolet Japan
Cell used: JASCO, fixed cell for liquid, KBr, t = 0.1 mm
Integration count: 32 times

(5-2) Capture rate of initial deteriorated product Focusing on nitrate ester (wave number; 1630 cm ⁻¹ ), which is one component of the initial deteriorated product, the peak height of nitrate ester of NOx deteriorated oil before and after filtration was measured, The capture rate of the initial deteriorated product was obtained from the decrease rate. FIG. 11 shows an example of the IR spectrum of the nitrate ester of the test NOx-degraded oil.

(6) Evaluation results of degradation product capturing effect The evaluation results are shown in FIG. According to FIG. 12, sepiolite whose pore size distribution is a comparative test example having no peak value, acidic white clay whose pore size distribution does not have a peak value, diatomaceous earth having an average pore size of 300 nm and an average pore size of Zeolite as small as 0.3 nm and non-porous silica each have an initial degradation product capture rate of less than 20%, and the capture effect is poor. On the other hand, it can be seen that FSM, activated clay, silica gel, and activated alumina, which are mesoporous inorganic materials, have an entrapment rate exceeding 50% and have an excellent capturing effect. In particular, FSM, activated clay, and silica gel having an average pore size as small as 2.7 to 7 nm and a specific surface area of 426 to 900 m ² / g have a capture rate of over 80%, resulting in a better capture effect. You can see that

<Test Example 2> (Deterioration suppression evaluation using an oil deterioration test apparatus)
In the filtration test of Test Example 1, using activated clay that had a capture rate of over 80% and had an excellent capture effect, the degradation suppression effect in a real-time test closer to the oil degradation condition in an actual engine was evaluated. .

(1) Test method The NOx deterioration test apparatus shown in FIG. 13 was used for the real-time test. Specifically, the lower part of a three-necked flask type glass test vessel is immersed in an oil bath adjusted to a predetermined temperature, and 3% by mass of activated clay is dispersed as a test oil from the central port, Toyota's genuine oil (trade name “Toyota Castle SM 5W-30”, acid value at the time of new oil; 2.5 mgKOH / g), which is a commercially available gasoline engine oil, was introduced and tested according to the test conditions shown in Table 4. A deterioration test with NO ₂ was carried out for 24 hours. The air containing NO ₂ and moisture was introduced into the sample oil from the left inlet in FIG. 13 and out from the right outlet for the test.

In Table 4, of the total gas flow rate of 283 mL / min, the difference between the air flow rate of 205 mL / min and the nitrogen gas flow rate of 50 mL / min, 28 mL / min is from the gas cylinder as nitrogen gas containing 1% by mass of NO _2. Supplied.

(2) Test result The test result was evaluated by the change in the acid value of the oil after the test. The evaluation results are shown in FIG. According to FIG. 14, the acid value when the activated clay is contained is less than 50% of the acid value when the activated clay is not contained. From this, it can be seen that the inclusion of the activated clay sufficiently suppresses the increase in the acid value associated with the NOx deterioration test, and suppresses the increase in acidic substances in the oil.

[3] Test Example 3 (Evaluation of oil deterioration suppression by actual engine)
(1) Oil degradation inhibitor The oil degradation inhibitor of the bypass flow structure of FIG. 1 was produced. Further, as the deterioration inhibitor, FSM having a capture rate exceeding 90% in the filtration test of Test Example 1 and having an excellent trapping effect was used, and 10 g was held in the deterioration suppressor. Using this oil deterioration suppression device, an evaluation test of oil deterioration suppression by an actual engine was conducted.

(2) Test method In the test, when the oil taken out from the engine oil pan is circulated by a pump to an oil deterioration suppressing device including the deterioration suppressing portion in which the FSM described in (1) is held, this device is used. When not installed, the engine was operated under the test conditions described in Table 5. And it evaluated by measuring the amount of the initial stage deterioration material which is produced | generated and mixed in oil with the driving | operation of an engine, and the base number and acid value of oil.

(3) Test result The oil under test was extract | collected and the amount of initial stage deterioration products measured using the centrifuge is shown in FIG. According to FIG. 15, it is understood that the oil filtered by the oil deterioration suppressing device can reduce the amount of initially deteriorated material in 150 cycles (corresponding to about 15000 km as a travel distance) by 54% compared with the case where the device is not used. . FIG. 16 shows the base number measured by the hydrochloric acid method in accordance with the JIS K 2501 petroleum product and lubricating oil-neutralization number test method. According to FIG. 16, the oil filtered by the oil deterioration suppressing device has a longer time required for the base number, which is one of the indicators of the degree of oil deterioration, to decrease to 1 mgKOH / g, compared with the case where the device is not used. It turns out that it becomes about 2 times. Furthermore, according to FIG. 17 showing the increase in acid value, it can be seen that the acid value in 150 cycles is 74% lower than when no apparatus is used, and the increase in acidic substances can be suppressed.

The above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the language used in the description and illustration of the invention is illustrative and exemplary rather than limiting. As detailed herein, changes may be made in its form within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Although specific structures, materials, and examples have been referred to in the detailed description of the invention herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosure herein, but rather, the invention is claimed. It covers all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses within the scope of

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in detail above, and various modifications or changes can be made within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

広く Widely used as a technology to suppress oil deterioration. In particular, it is suitably used as a technology for suppressing deterioration of engine oil of vehicles such as passenger cars, buses, trucks and the like, railway vehicles such as trains and trains, construction vehicles, agricultural vehicles, and industrial vehicles.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101; Oil deterioration suppression apparatus, 2,102; Housing, 3, 103; Filtration part, 4,104,32,34,36,39; Deterioration suppression part, 5,105; Oil inflow path, 6,106; Oil outlet path, 7; oil return path, 9; oil pan, 10; filter medium, 17; deterioration inhibitor, 18, 118, 31, 33a, 33b, 35; porous layer, 18a, 118a; first porous layer; 118b; second

porous layer

19, 119; intermediate layer.

Claims

A filtration unit comprising a filter medium for filtering oil;
A deterioration suppression unit including a powdery deterioration inhibitor that suppresses deterioration of oil,
The deterioration inhibitor includes a mesoporous inorganic material,
Of the oil sent from the oil reservoir, the oil filtered by the filtration unit is sent to the lubrication target unit, and the oil whose degradation is suppressed by the degradation suppression unit is returned to the oil storage unit or the lubrication target An oil deterioration suppressing device characterized by being sent to a section.
The oil deterioration suppressing device according to claim 1, wherein the mesoporous inorganic material has an average pore diameter of 1 to 30 nm.
2. The oil deterioration suppressing device according to claim 1, wherein the mesoporous inorganic material has a pore volume of 0.3 to 4.0 cm 3 / g.
The oil deterioration suppressing device according to claim 1, wherein the mesoporous inorganic material has a specific surface area of 120 to 2000 m 2 / g.
The oil deterioration suppressing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mesoporous inorganic material is an oxide-based inorganic material having an element selected from the group consisting of Si, Al, Fe, Ca, and Mg.
The oil deterioration suppressing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the deterioration suppressing unit includes a porous layer that holds the deterioration suppressing agent and allows oil to pass therethrough.
The porous layer has a first porous layer and a second porous layer that are stacked in the oil passage direction, and the porosity of the first porous layer on the upstream side is that of the second porous layer on the downstream side. The oil deterioration suppressing device according to claim 6, wherein the oil deterioration suppressing device is larger than the porosity.
The oil deterioration suppressing device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the deterioration suppressing unit includes an intermediate layer that is disposed between the plurality of porous layers, the deterioration suppressing agent cannot pass through, and the oil can pass through.
A housing for housing the filtration part and the deterioration suppressing part;
In the housing, an oil inflow path for allowing oil sent from the oil storage part to flow into the housing, an oil outflow path for allowing oil filtered by the filtration part to flow out to the lubrication target part, The oil deterioration suppression device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an oil return path for returning the oil whose deterioration is suppressed by the deterioration suppression unit to the oil storage unit is formed.